Darth Malgus
is one of the malevolent villains in the upcoming Star Wars: The Old
Republic video game. In Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Third Lesson,
a short fiction exclusive to the Star Wars Insider Magazine, Paul S. Kemp
seeks to shed some light on the characterís history.

We meet Darth Malgus upon his defeat
in his quest to destroy Alderaan. Horribly wounded after a grenade has exploded
in his face and a battle with a Jedi
witch in which his lungs were damaged,
Malgus is beside himself with anger. While retreating from New Republic forces,
Darth Malgus spots a light-side Force user. Rage burns through him and,
yearning for its release, he seeks out this Jedi upon which he can take his
revenge. While doing so, he thinks back to his childhood and the lessons his
father imparted unto him just prior to his leaving to join the Empire.

The father of Veradun, as Darth
Malgus was once called, was a biologist in the Imperial Science Corps and as
such, had become curator of his own personal zoo filled with exotic creatures.
It is here that he offers his son the final lessons he will teach him before
leaving. These lessons, as remembered one by one, aide Malgus in his fight
against his adversary on Alderaan and offer us insight into his character.

In just five
pages, I now know just what type of man Darth Malgus has become and where he
learned his philosophies. Molded by his father and an empire bent on
destruction, Darth Malgus is evil personified, an intelligent yet obsessed being
who will stop at nothing to achieve victory. Paul S. Kempís vision of Darth
Malgus is chilling and I can only imagine what more he has in store for us in
his novel, Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived, due out in March 22,
2011. Thanks to this short story, I look forward to checking it out.